Door closer



Nov. 21, 1961 Filed March 6, 1958 F. H. PITTENGER DOOR CLOSER 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 A 7T////) //f///////////// INVENTOR. Franc/5 /f P/#flgf and Z ATTOENEYS Nov. 21, 1961 F. H. PITTENGER 3,009191 DOOR CLOSER Filed March 6, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Hana/5 H //fny/T ATTOQNEYS Nov. 21, 1 F. H. PITTENGER 3,009,l9l

DOORCLOSER Filed March 6, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Nov. 21, 196 F. H. PITTENGER DOOR CLOSER 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 6, 1958 INVENTOR. 527005 /7 P/ffe/ er /TTOE/VEYS atent Patented Nov. 21 1961 3,009,191 DOOR CLOSER Francis H. Pittenger, Shelby, Ohio, assgnor to The Shelby Spring Hinge Company, Shelby, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Mar. 6, 1958, Ser. No. 719,554 14 Claims. (Cl. 16--55) This invention relates to door closers and particularly to a closer rthe mechansm of which can be mounted within a door. In general, the mechanism of the present invention includes means for pivotally supporting a door, spring means for storing energy when the door is open to provide motive force for closing the door, and a damper for retarding the rate of closure of the door. Moreover, the mechanism includes a novel linkage arrangement whereby the spring means and damper can be mounted completely within the confines of the side panels of a standard door of 1% inch th'ckness.

It is -therefore the primary object of the present invention to provide a door closer mechanism of such compact ness that substantially all of the Components of the mechanism can be mounted within the confines of the door.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a door closer mechanism having a novel linkage for translating torque produced by rotation of the door into linear force utilized in compressing an -axially moveable spring means.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a door closer mechanism which inconporates a novel hydraulic clamping apparatus adapted to prevent the leaking of the hydraulic fluid from within the confines of the door.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide 'a door closer mechani sm incorporatng a novel linkage that can be mounted substantially within 'the confines of the door and which can -be moved into a configuration wherein the inherent design of the linkage retainsthe door in an open position.

It is still another object of :the present invention to provide a door closer mechanism incorporating a novel linkage that includes stop means for terminati ng movement of the door beyond a predetermined position.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred form of embodiment of the invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a conventional door showing the closer mechanism of the present invention mounted thereon;

FIGURE 2 is a top sectional View of the closer mechanism of FIGURE 1 with the section being taken along the line 2-2 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the mechanism of FIGURE 2 with the section being taken along the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a detal sectional View of the mechanism of FIGURE 1 with the section being taken along the line 4-4 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 i-s another sectional View of the mechanism of FIGURE 1 with the section being taken along the line 5-5 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURES 6 through 1 0 are a series of diagrammatie views illustrating various configurations of a linkage comprising a portion of the mechanism of FIGURE 1; and

FIG. 11 s a sectional view of a portion of the dash-pot mechanism taken on along the line 11-11 of FIG. 3.

Referring in detail to the drawings, FIGURE 1 shows a closer mechanism, indicated generally at 13 which includes a housing 20` Secured to a conventional metal door by a plurality of screws 11.

The closer mechanism is contained within the housing 20 and door 100 in the manner illustrated in FIGURES 2 through 5, reference being next made to these figures for the purpose of describing the mechanism in detail.

The mechanism includes a stationary crank indicated generally at 10', the lower end 12 of which is of squaie cross-section. An upper floor plate 51 is provided with a socket 53 of square cross section for receiving the lower crank end 12. Upper floor plate 51 rests on a lower floor plate 52, the latter being fastened to floor 50 by a plurality of lag screws, not illustrated. To facilitate locating socket 53 to conform with the desired location for the pivotal axis of the door, upper floor plate 51 is preferably Secured to lower floor plate 52 by -a plurality of screws, not illustrated, that pass through elongated slots in upper floor plate 51. If desired, lower floor plate 52 can be provided with elongated slots for receiving the lag screws that secure plate 52 to the floor. With this arrangement lower plate 52 can be adjust-ably moved in one direction, relative to the floor, and upper plate 51 can be adjustably moved, in a transverse direction, relative to the floor.

The upper end of stationary crank 10 is provided with a recess 73 and an nverted cup 14. A plurality of balls 74 are retained between the recess and the cup and form a combined thrust and radial hearing for supponting the load of door 100. It will now be understood that door 100, casing 20, and all the mechanism contained therein, are rotatable on the upper end of stationary crank 10.

Crank 10 includes an eccentric portion that carries a stationary pivot pin 23, the axis of said pin being eccentric to the aXis of the crank.

As is best seen in FIGURES 2 and 4, a pivot pin 18 is carried by housing 20, said pin being inserted through a hole 121 and having its upper end threaded into the casing at threaded hole 101. A pair of link connector plates 21 and 22 are pivotally mounted on pivot pin 18. A link 16 connects the stationary pivot pin 23, carried by crank ofset 15, with a pivot pin 24 carried by link connecter plates 21 and 22.

. The force required for closing the door is obtained from two main compression springs '30 and 31 that are retained within the door by spring guides 37 and 38 mounted to the left end of the casing 20 and by spring guides 35 and 36 mounted on a spring guide plate 46. It will be noted from FIGURES 2 and 3 that upper and lower plates 43 and 44- are recessed to form track portions that engage and guide protrusions 122 and 123 on spring guide plate 46.

As is best illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 3, a spring Connector link 26 is disposed between the side panels of the door with one end connected to the link connector plates 21 and 22 at a pivot pin 27. The other end of spring Connector link 26 is Secured to a pivot pin 28 carried by L-shaped brackets 68, said brackets being mounted to the left side of spring guide plate 46.

It will now be understood that when door 100 is opened by clockwise rotation about stationary crank 10=, as viewed in FIGURE 2, the right ends of main compression springs 30 and 31 will be restrained by the cha-r of linkage comprising crank 10, stationary pivot pin 23, link 16, pivot pin 24, link connecter plates 21 and 22, pivot pin 27, spring Connector link 26, brackets 68, and spring guide plate 46.

A dashpot mechanism 56 is provided for retarding the rate of closure of the door. Such mechanism includes a piston 58 moveably carried in a cylinder 62.

Piston 58 is connected to spring guide plate 46 by means of connecting rod 64, pin 72, and L-shaped brackets 67. Hence, it will be understood that movement of spring guide plate 46 along track portion 115 causes a corresponding movement of piston 58 in cylinder 62.

When door 100 is opened by clockwse rotation about crank 10, as viewed in FIGURE 2, dash-pot 56 does not offer any resistance since fluid in cylinder 62 can pass freely through passages 63 and 61 as ball check valve 60 is readily opened by fluid pressure. A cross-pin 75 carried by piston 58 retains valve 60 in its passage.

When door 100 is closing, however, by counter clockwise rotation about crank 10, piston 58 and cylinder 62 are urged towards one another. Ball check 60 is urged against its seat by the fluid so pressurzed in the cylinder on the right side of the piston and the force exerted by springs 30 and 31 on the piston expels fluid to the left side of the piston via passage 76, orifice 81, passage 82, and passage 84. As seen in FIG. 2, vertical passage 76 connects the chamber on one side of piston 58 With a horizontal passage 200, FIG. 11. Horizontal passage 200 is connected to passage 82 by an orfice 81. As seen in FIG. 3, passage 84 connects passage 200 with the chamber on the other side of piston 58. A needle valve 80 rotatably carried in a threaded hole 78 provides means for varying the size of orifice 81. Hence it will be understood that the needle valve 80 provides means for varying the resistance to flow of fluid from the right side of piston 58 to the left side of piston 58. With this arrangement the closing rate of door can be selectively varied.

It will be noted from FIGURE 3 that the right end of cylinder 62 is closed by a threaded plug 66. A seal 68 is disposed between plug 66 and the end of cylinder 62. Passage 82 is formed by drilling into the end of the cylinder casing and closing the hole with a threaded plug 83. Passages 76 and 84 are formed by drilling holes that intersect passages 200 and 82 respectvely and by then pluggirg the outer ends of the holes through passage 82 with rvets 85.

As is best illustrated in FIGURE 3, booster springs 32 and 33 are mounted on projectons 71 of spring guides 35 and 36. When the door is opened, after 120 'degrees of rotation, the left ends of booster sprngs 32 and 33 engage the right ends of spring guides 37 and 38, at which time the booster springs augment the resistance to opening provided by main compression springs 30 and 31. Since the mechanism moves into a hold-open configuration, slightly beyond 120 degrees of rotation, it will be understood that 'booster springs 32 and 33 provide a supplemental resistance that prevents the door from inadvertently being moved into a hold-open configuration.

With continued reference to FIGURES 2 through 5, the bottom of casing 20 includes a threaded hole 108 that carries a threaded plug 105 which provides means for installing crank 10, and the associated mechanism, in the casing 20. Moreover, the left side of casing 20 is formed by a removable plate 102 which provides further access to the interier of the casing. Crank includes a male hearing portion 211 rotatably mounted in a female bearing portion in threaded plug 105.

A height adjusting screw 54 is carried in a hole in crank end 12 and protrudes from the bottom of the crank end to provide means for vertically adjusting the door 100 relative to the floor 50.

Reference is next made to FIGURES 6 through 10` which illustrate the configuration of the various components of the mechanism at various angles of rotation.

FIGURE 6 illustrates the configuration of the linkage at zero degree rotation with the door in the closed position. Springs 30-31, FIG. 2, are in a slightly compressed configuration whereby the door is urged against a stop, not llustrated, in a counter clockwise direction about its pivot as viewed in FIG. 6.

FIGURE 7 shows the configuration of the linltage after door 100 has been rotated through 45 degrees. It will be noted that housing 20 has rotated about the center of crank 10. The pivot pin *18 and link connector plates 21-22 mounted on housing 20 have also been rotated about the center of crank 10. Since pivot pin 23 is mounted or the oset 15 of stationary crank 10 the movement of link 16 is confined to rotation about stationary pivot pin 23. Since link 16 is pivotally connected to link connector plates 21-22 at the pivot 24, the link 16 will modify the movement of link connector plates 21-22 about the pivot 18 that connects the plates to the housing 20. It will now be understood that compression springs 30 and 31 will be subjected to axial compression by spring connector link 26 that forms a connection between link connector plates 21-22 at the pivot 27, and the ends of springs 30-31 adjacent the pivot 28. Arrow 127 (FIG. 7) indicates the distance the linkage has moved pin 28 relative to a closed configuration datum line 128 and hence represents the amount springs 30-31 have been compressed after rotation of the door through 45 degrees.

FIGURE 8 shows the configuration of the linkage mechanism after door 100 has been rotated through degrees. It will be noted that pivot 18 carried on housing 20 has been rotated through a greater angle about the center of crank 10. Moreover, link 16 has been rotated through a greater angle about its stationary pivot pin 23. Hence it will be understood that the linkage connection formed by stationary pivot pin 23, link 16, pivot 24, connector plates 21-22, pivot 27, spring connector link 26, and pivot 28, have further compressed springs 30-31 as Compared to the amount such springs were compressed in the configuration of 45 degree rotation in FIGURE 7.

FIGURE 9 illustrates the configuration of' the linkage mechanism after door has been moved through degrees just prior to movement of the door into the holdopen configuration. Pivot pin 18 has been rotated through a greater angle about the center of crank 10 and link 16 has rotated through a greater angle about stationary pivot pin 23.

It will be noted in FIGURE 9 that pivot 18 lies just on one side of a vertical plane through the center of crank 10 and stationary pivot pin 23. Upon further rotation of the door, beyond that illustrated in FIGURE 9, pivot 18 will pass through vertical plane and the door Will move into a hold-open configuration wherein the compression force of springs 30-31 exerts a torque about the center of crank 10 in a clockwise direction. This reversal in direction of applied torque, which occurs when moveable pivot 18 moves through vertical plane 125, tends to urge door 100 towards an open configuration. As the link assumes the configuration of FIGURE 9, just prior to movng into the hold-open configuration, the previously mentioned booster springs 32-33 engage the right ends of spring guides 37-38 and provide the previously described supplemental force that prevents inadvertment movement of the door into the hold-open configuration.

FIGURE 10 illustrates the configuration of the linkage after the door has been rotated through an angle of slightly less than degrees in which configuration one edge of link 16 engages a stop shoulder 110 formed on crank 10. In addition, the edge 126 of link connector plates 21-22 will engage a second stop shoulder '111 formed on crank 10. It will be understood that engagement of the edges of the link and connector plates with stop shoulders 110 and 111 serves to prevent further opening of door 100. This feature is useful in preventing damage to a plate glass window or wall which in some installations would be present adjacent the door pivot and hence be damaged if door 100 could be moved beyond the configuration illustrated in FIGURE 10.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred form of embodiment of the invention is clearly shown.

I claim:

1. A door closer comprising, in combination, a crank means including an upright pivot having an oifset, s-aid pivot having a stationary upwardly facing bearing portion for pivotally supporting a door, and a lower end portion; means forming a movable downwardly facing bearing portion engagng said stationary bearing portion and adapted for attachment to a door; means forming a stationary mounting between said lower end portion of said crank means and the floor; linkage means including a pivotally mounted plate having a first connection secured to said ofiset and a second connection; and resilient means operative between said second connection of said linkage means and said door for holding the door in a closed position.

2. A door closer for a door of the type that includes spaced panels adjacent a pivoted door edge, said closer comprising, in combination, a crank means including an upright pivot having an oifset, said pivot having a stationary upwardly facing bearing portion for pivotally supporting a door, and a lower end portion; means forming a movable downwardly facing bearing portion engaging said stationary bearing portion and adapted for attachment to a door; means forming a stationary mounting between said lower end portion of said crank means and the floor; linkage means including a pivotally mounted link connector member having a first connection with said offset and a second connection; a spring connector link secured to said second connection and extendng between said spaced panels, said link having an end spaced from said pivoted edge of said door; and compression spring means for extension between said spaced panels and operative between an inner portion of said door adjacent said pivoted edge and said end of said spring connector link for holding the door in a closed position.

3. A door closer comprising, in combination, a crank means including an upright pivot having an offset, said pivot having a stationary upwardly facing bearing portion for pivotally supporting a door, and a lower end portion; means forming a stationary mounting between said lower end portion of said crank means and the floor; a housing surrounding said crank means and rotatably supported on said bearing portion and adapted to be connected to the door; a link connector plate pivotally mounted on said housing; a crank connector link having a first pivotal connection with said oflset and a second pivotal connection with said link connector plate; spring means operatively connected to the door for holding the door in a closed position; and a spring connector link having a first end guided for longitudinal movement by said spring means and pivotally connected to said spring means and a second end pivotally connected to said link connector plate.

4. A door closer for a door of the type that includes spaced panels adjacent a .pivoted door edge, said closer comprising, in combination, a crank means including an upright pivot having an oflset, said pivot having a stationary upwardly facing bearing portion for pivotally supporting a door, and a lower end portion; means forming a stationary mounting between said lower end portion of said crank means and the floor; a housing surrounding said crank means and rotatably supported on said bearing portion and adapted to be connected to the door; a link connector plate pivotally mounted on said housing; a crank connector link having a first pivotal connection with said offset and a second pivotal connection with said link connector plate; compression spring means disposed between said spaced panels and operatively connected to said door for urging said door towards a closed position; and a spring connector link having a first end pivotally connected to said link connector plate and a second end Secured to said spring means.

5. A door closer comprising, in combination, a crank means including an upright pivot having an oflset, said pivot having a stationary upwardly facing bearing portion for pivotally supporting a door, and a lower end portion; means forming a movable downwardly facing bearing portion engaging said stationary bearing portion and adapted for attachment to a door; means forming a stationary mounting between said lower end portion of said crank means and the floor; a housing surrounding said crank means and rotatably supported on said bearing portion and adapted to be connected to the door; a link connector plate pivotally mounted on said housing; a crank connector link having a first pivotal connection with said oflset and a second pivotal connection with said link connector plate; spring means operatively connected to the door for holding the door in a closed position; and a spring connector link having a first end guided for longitudinal sliding movement and pivotally connected to said spring means and a second free end pivotally connected to said link connector plate, said crank connector link means including an edge that engages and is stopped by said pivot upon movement of said door through a predetermined angle of pivotal movement.

6. A door closer comprising, in combination, a crank means including an upright pivot having an ofiset, said pivot having a stationary upwardly facing bearing portion for pivotally supporting a door, and a lower end portion; means forming a movable downwardly facing bearing portion engaging said stationary bearing portion and adapted for attachment to a door; means forming a stationary mounting between said lower end portion of said crank means and the floor; linkage means including a pivotally mounted link connector member including a first connection and a second connection, a crank connector link having one end pivotally attached to said oilset and the other end pivotally attached to said first connection, and a spring connector link having a first end pivotally attached to said second connection and a second end, one of said links including a side edge; spring means including a first end connected to said second end of said spring connector link and a second end attached to said door; and a shoulder on said pivot forming a stop that engages said side edge of said link upon movement of said door through a predetenmined angle of pivotal movement foaholding the door in a closed position.

7. The door closer defined in claim 1 including cylinder means; a piston in said cylinder means and operatively connected to said resilient means, said piston including a passage connecting said cylinder on opposite sides of said piston; passage means connecting said cylinder means on one side of said piston with said cylinder means on the other side of said piston; and a check valve for said passage in said piston.

8. The door closer defined in claim 3 including cylinder means; a piston in said cylinder means, said piston including a passage connecting said cylinder on opposite sides of said piston; passage means connecting said cylinder means on one side of said piston with said cylinder means on the other side of said piston; a check valve for said passage in said piston; spaced walls formed by said housing; and a spring guide engaged by said spring and piston, said spring guide being slideably supported between said walls.

9. A door closer comprising, in combination, a crank means including an upright pivot having an otfset, said pivot having a stationary upwardly facing bearing portion for pivotally supporting a door, and a lower end portion; base means forming a socket for receiving said lower end portion of said crank means and preventing rotation thereof; means for adjustably securing the base means to a floor; linkage means including a first connection Secured to said offset and a second connection; and resilient means operative between said second connection of said linkage means and said door for holding the door in a closed position.

10. A door closer comprising, in combination, a crank means including an upright pivot having an oset, said pivot having -a stationary upwardly facing bearing portion for pivotally supporting a door, and a lower end portion; base means including a first base portion forming a socket for receiving said lower end portion of said crank means and preventing rotation thereof; and a second base portion adjustably Secured to said first base portion; linkage means including a first connection secured to said oflset and a second connection; and resilient means operative between said second connection of said linkage means and said door for holding the door in a closed position.

11. A door closer comprising, in combination, a crank means including an upright pivot having an offset, said pivot having a stationary upwardly facing bearing portion for pivotally supporting a door, and a lower end portion; means forming a movable downwardly facing hearing portion engaging said stationary bearing portion and adapted for attachment to a door; means forming a stationary mounting between said lower end portion of said crank means and the floor, linkage means including a pivotally mounted plate having a first connection secured to said oli set and a second connection; resilient means operative between said second connection of said linkage means and said door for holding the door in a closed position; cylinder means; a piston in said cylinder means, said piston including a passage connecting said cylinder on opposite sides of said piston; a connecting rod forming an operative connection between said piston and said resilient means and extended through an end of cylinder means; a seal caried by said end of said cylinder means and surrounding said connecting rod; and means forming a chamber outwardly of said seal for receiving and retaining any fluid that may leak from said cylinder past said seal.

12. A door closer comprising, in combination, a crank means including an upright pivot having an oflset, said pivot having a stationary upwardly facing hearing portion for pivotally supporting a door, and a lower end portion; means forming a movable downwardly facing bearing portion engaging said stationary bearing portion and adapted for attachment to a door; means forming a stationary mounting between said lower end portion of said crank means and the floor; linkage means including a pivotally mounted plate having a first connection secured to said ofiset and a second connection; resilient means operative between said second connection of said lnkage means and said door for holding the door in a closed position; cylinder means; a piston in said cylinder means, said piston including a passage; a connecting rod forming an operative connection between said piston and said resilient means; housing means for said resilient means, said housing means including spaced panels; and

a gasket disposed between said spaced panels and forming a wall of a chamber for receiving and retaining any fluid that may leak from said cylinder means.

13. A door closer comprising, in combination, a crank means including an upright pivot having an oflset, said pivot having a stationary upwardly facing bearing portion for pivotally supporting a door, and a lower end portion; means forming a movable downwardly facing bearing portion engaging said stationary bearing portion and adapted for attachment to a door; means forming a stationary mounting between said lower end portion of said crank means and the floor; linkage means including a pivotally mounted plate having a first connection secured to said oflfset and a second connection; resilient means operative between said second connection of said linkage means and said door for holding the door in a closed position; cylinder means; a piston in said cylinder means, said piston including a passage; housing means for said resilient means and including spaced walls; a guide engaged by said resilient means and slideably supported between said walls; and a member forming an operative connection between said piston and said guide.

14. A door closer comprising, in combination, a crank means including an upright pivot having an olfset, said pivot having a 'stationary upwardly facing bearing portion for pivotally supporting a door, and a lower end portion; means forming a movable downwardly facing bearing portion engaging said stationary hearing portion and adapted for attachment to a door; means forming a stationary mounting between said lower end portion of said crank means and the oor; linkage means including a pivotally mounted plate having a first connection secured to said offset and a second connection; resilient means operative between said second connection of said linkage means and said door for holding the door in a closed position; cylinder means; a piston in said cylinder means, said piston including a passage; housing means for said resilient means and including spaced panels; a guide engaged by said resilient means; a member forming an operative connection between said piston and said guide and a gasket disposed between said spaced panels and forming a Wall of a chamber for receiving and retaining any fluid that may leak from said cylinder means, said gasket including an opening for passage of said member through said gasket.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS %2,916 Regan June 28, 1910 l,243,947 Keene Oct. 23, 1917 2,223,045 Pariot Nov. 6, 1940 2,588,010 Kennon Mar. 4, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,113,900 France Dec. 12, 1955 

